Profile
Starting with a part-time role during her university studies, Penny Parisoff has risen to become area president in Kansas City for Risk Placement Services. Marked out as a trailblazer, she was the first woman agent for American Family Insurance in St. Joseph, Missouri, paving the way for others to follow.
What distinguishes Parisoff is her deep specialization and track record of building profitable, sustainable programs. She is a highly regarded expert in the human services niche, known for leading programs to profitability whether she is constructing them from the ground up or revitalizing underperforming portfolios. This rare ability to both innovate and optimize has made her a go‑to leader for complex, evolving lines of business, particularly in youth-related accounts where the marketplace is constantly shifting.
“My greatest strength is connecting with people – listening first, understanding their needs, and working collaboratively to solve problems in a way that strengthens relationships and results.”
This people-centric mindset underpins her leadership philosophy. Parisoff is energized by growth and change, seeing them not as threats but as catalysts for progress. Adaptability, curiosity, and a willingness to “get uncomfortable” have guided her through new opportunities and increasing levels of responsibility.
Her impact, however, extends beyond financial metrics. Parisoff says, “I’ve experienced how directness and confidence can be interpreted differently depending on gender. Traits that are typically viewed as strong leadership when demonstrated by men can be perceived as aggressive or less approachable when demonstrated by women.”
To help navigate this for others, she is a committed mentor and sponsor and has brought numerous colleagues along by using her platform to open doors, share hard-won lessons, and demystify leadership paths that were not always visible to her early in her career.
She is acutely aware of the structural barriers women face – from exclusionary informal networks to the double standards placed on confident, direct female leaders – and has chosen to confront these realities not with resignation but with advocacy.
“Women carry significant responsibility at home and at work, and flexibility is not a perk; it’s a key to sustainable leadership,” says Parisoff. “I wasn’t shown this early in my career, even in salaried roles, which is why I strive to lead differently.”
Parisoff’s career is also marked by personal courage and conviction. Early on, when a prospective employer insisted on meeting her husband to “discuss” the demands of a leadership role, she walked away, recognizing that any organization questioning her autonomy was not where she belonged.
Recognized by Insurance Business America as an Elite Woman 2026, she leads with empathy while pushing herself and her teams beyond their comfort zones. Above all, she is focused on developing confident, self-sufficient leaders who surpass her, creating a stronger, more inclusive industry.
She says, “I believe the next generation of leaders should be even stronger than the last. If I’ve helped create that momentum, then I’ve truly made a lasting impact on our industry.”
2850 Golf Road, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
866 595 8413
RPS.Marcomm@RPSins.com
linkedin.com/in/penny-parisoff-6110628
RPSins.com
Penny Parisoff
Area President – RPS Social Services Program
Risk Placement Services
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Bio
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Profile
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Bio
Milestones
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Special Report
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Bio
Milestones
1982
2024
Present
2020–2021
Present
Joined the insurance industry
1982
Joined RPS as Leader of Social Services Program
2024
Selected for Specialty Woman’s Advisory Council
Present
Chief Business Development Officer at Great Bay Insurance Group
2020–2021
Executive Vice President and Regional Leader (Northeast) at Amwins since 2021
Present
Milestones
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
She continually assesses strategy, aligning talent, technology, and capital with Fortegra’s future vision. By helping people understand the value of their work, Taylor drives engagement and fosters a culture where everyone sees themselves as a builder of the company’s future.
With respect to her impact at Fortegra, she adds, “I enjoy taking on operational challenges that enable our underwriting, actuarial, and finance professionals to focus on their core priorities, ultimately delivering meaningful value to Fortegra's partners and stakeholders.”
Three themes anchor her approach to both role and career:
commitment to continuous learning
focus on serving the enterprise and adding tangible value
alignment with companies whose values mirror her own
Recognized by Insurance Business as an Elite Woman 2026, Taylor is aware of the importance of visibility and representation. In a sector where senior female role models remain limited, she has chosen to see barriers as an invitation to chart her own course.
Through mentorship, active participation in networks of women C-suite leaders, and initiatives like Fortegra’s Network of Women (N.O.W.) program, she is helping build clearer pathways, stronger support systems, and broader possibilities for the next generation.
“If my experience can help someone navigate their path with more confidence or clarity, then recognition like this becomes much more meaningful,” she says. “My goal is to help create a cycle where every generation of leaders lifts the next one higher.”
“My goal is to help create a cycle where every generation of leaders lifts the next one higher”
Abbie Taylor,
Fortegra
“This type of work energizes me because, like many of us at Fortegra, I’m a business builder at heart”
Abbie Taylor,
Fortegra